The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-22
THE FARCE OF PROHIBITION.
How the Prohibitory Law Works I'm Atlanta
"A City of Free Whisky.

How the Prohibitory Law Works in Atlanta
"A City of Free Whisky.
F. d. Ms Atlanta Letter.
AS my tribute to the practical working of legal
and arbitrary prohibition in Atlanta, l can
truthfuly say that never before saw so much
promscuous drinking and drunkenness as have
seen in Atlanta during the last three days l
am sure every Northern newspaper correspond
emit will indorse in this statement SO far as
their individual experience is concerned
There is not a city in the United States in
which the sale of whisky is more open and pub
lie than right here
There are various devices to cover it. but they
open and transparent that they are
laughed at There are hundred and fifty.
six saloons in Atlanta in which whisky Is sold
openiy-and very bad whisky 1t is.
All this is done under cloak of hypocrisy.
Prohibition is hypocrisy, anyway, and never
more iuridly shown up than IN this stagger at
You can walk into any saloon in Atlanta and
ask for nerve tonic" ard you will be promptly
furnished with big glass of whisky.
Beer is sold without restraint Outside OF a
saloon at the Markham House end of the rail-
road station have been seen every morning from
fifteen to twenty barrels Of empty beer bottles.
as a result of the twenty-four hours preceding.
Upon the left side of the street as you walk
up the artesian we'll from the kimball House
are three saloons where you can get all the red
eye and poison YOU crave.
The law forbids the sale OF malt beer SO you
can buy all tho rice" beer you are anxious for,
which is made in Charleston"
The fact Is it is regular old beer" and is
made to a great extent by Christian Moerlein.
of Cincinnati.
hind it is a big sign Rice Beer; non-intoxi-
eating" and half a dozen bar-keepers are jump
ing to serve the crowd with regular old lager
beer delivered by the bottle w bile whisky
does not appear openly. except in its effects, in
the Kimbal House. it is not the less fact that 1t
is served to it's guests in enormous quantities.
Fifteen twenty bell boys are kept running
to the rooms of guests with white paper parcels
containing pint and quart bottles of whisky. and
there is a busy industry in the lower regions OF
the house IN preparing the pint ana quart TASKS
for the demand.
What the sale of .'rice beer" and whisky has
been in the Kimball House alone during the
visit of President Cleveland it would be hard to
calculate. and if the statement of the number of
gallons could be given, it would be received with
incredulity.
Close to the Kimball House is saloon
which used to be famous the big Bonanza"
There is also the New Era" and further I'D. at
the corner, Beerman's ''Soda-water" place.
There is also another place in the line in front
of which is the sign, Quart bottles Of wine for
sale"
In any of those places you can buy any liquor
you desire in any quantity you please. In and
out of these places for tie last three DAYS and
nights, at all hours, have been staggering
drunken men, with mouths full of ribald profan-
prohibit law is the statute books and is
flourshing wonderfully. The barkeepers and
proprietors of the gin mills in Atlanta are reap
ing golden harvest under the present laws.
which lets them out from paying any license
and at the same time leaves them loop hole
throuGn which to sell oceans of beer and whisky.
If you 20 into one of these places-and very ee-
CANT they in furniture and bar appoint
ments-you will sec a sign in one place reading
thus: Rice beer, noD-alcoholic." and another
like this: Nerve tonic. non-alcoholic." Ard
yet when you order you will find that the first is
straight Cincinnati beer and the second red
hot specimen of straight sour mash or rye
whisky. you may elect
I'm the ''Big Bonanza" the genial host stands
behind a great punch bowl filed with whisky.
When you ask for little nerve tonic" he takes
a tumb er, dips it full of the nerve tonic" in the
DO wi and sets il on the counter, accompanied by
the usual glass of.water. You take your drink.
pay your fifteen cents and get out Ii you don
get out policeman will help you out and 60
back for q drink.
This morning took stroll about town in
company with Mr.. Paul Wolff. q well known
Washington correspondent.
The street from the Kim ball House up to the
artesan we'll was full of drunken people, ard all
the saloons crowded and uproarious At
twelve or thirteen-year-old boy trying to get his
drunken father home. The small boy
manfully trying to support and quiet his
father side, while sympathetic citizen
was helping to hold up on the other. Mr.. Wolff
and strolled across the city to the new Capitol
building and down Washington street past the
handsome residence of Mr.. julius Brown and
near there eaw another illustration of the
beauties of prohibition as a coercive measure In
Atlanta or anywhere else. This time the case
was reversed and saw old gentleman
bring home his son, handsome young man OF
twenty-five or three 80 intoxicated that it took
the father side and the coachman on the
other walk the young man up to the hand
some house in which they disappeared, while
Mr.. Wolff and l looked on | do not know
which was the more pitiable sight. the son TAX
ing home the drunken father or the old father
taking home his drunken son.
In any of the numerous saloons the nerve
tonic is sold quart bottles to any extent and
to anybody, black white. who has the money
to pay for it Upon each bottle is label with
this inscription. Southern nerve tonic. highly
recommended for all kinds of nervous diseases.
non alcoholic drink. Dose. one wine glass full
before each meal more, occasion may re-
ouire. Made by the Southern Nerve Tonic
Company Atlanta. Ga"
Now, this NERVE tonic" is nothing but straight
Atlanta whisky or blended whisky of bad
character made in Kentucky and in and about
Cincinnati.
This is unprejudiced and truthful account
OF how prohibition is working in city where
popular sentiment is against it in spite of the
face of the vote that carried it.
Mr. Cleveand's coming and going called at
tention TO this matter. and have given nothing
in regard to il that every observant visitor to
Atlanta will not readily substantate simply
the truth.